Guest Post: How can I experience joy in my discipleship life?”

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am overseas.  This is by  Μιχαήλ.  He is no stranger to some of you who read this blog.  His blog be found here and here.

How can I experience joy in my discipleship life?

 

Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every disciple’s life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced by God’s work in us, and it is part of God’s will for us.

I know that even the most mature of God’s people experience periods of joylessness. For instance:

• Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11).
• David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalm 55:6–8).
• Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16–46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3–5).

If these men struggled, how can we experience consistent joy in the discipleship life?

The first thing is to realize that joy is a gift from God. The root word for joy in the Greek is chara, which is closely related with the Greek charis for “grace.” Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and relish His favor.

It’s evident that one way to experience joy is to focus on God. Rather than dwelling on my difficulties or those things robbing my contentment, I can dwell on God. This is not to say we should deny our discontent or stuff negative emotions. Following the example of many of the psalmists, we can pour out our hearts to God. We can tell Him bluntly all the things that ail us. But then we submit those things to Him, remember who He is, and are happy in Him.

The book of Philippians has much to say about joy, even though Paul wrote the epistle from prison. Philippians 4:4–8 gives some guidelines for experiencing joy in the discipleship life:

“Rejoice in the Master always. I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . The Master is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in the Messiah Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Here we see the importance of praising God, remembering that He is near, praying about our worries, and keeping our minds focused on the good things of God. I can experience joy when I intentionally praise.

David wrote that the study of God’s Word can bring us joy.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:8).

We experience joy by communing with God through prayer. And we experience joy by keeping our focus on godly things rather than on difficult circumstances or discontentment.

Jesus also gave some instructions regarding joy. Jesus talked about abiding in Him and obeying Him. He said,

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:9–11).

One of the keys to joy is living in obedience to God.

Another way to experience joy in the disciple’s life is through community. God gave Elijah rest and then sent a man, Elisha, to help him. We, too, need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with.

Hebrews 10:19–25 says:

“Brothers and sisters . . . let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Because of the grace of God, I know we can approach God confidently in prayer. We know we are cleansed of our sin. And we are joined into a new community, a family of believers.

With our fellow believers, we hold firm to our faith, trusting in the character of God. We also encourage one another. the disciples do not belong to this world.

We long to be with God, finally restored to our original design. Life can be lonely and discouraging. Others help remind us of truth, carry our burdens with us, and strengthen us to continue on.

Joy is meant to be a hallmark of the discipleship life. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a gift of God. I best receive this gift when I focus on the truth of who God is, commune with Him through prayer, and rely on the community of believers He has provided.

 

What is joy? Why is it important?

Literally, the “fruit of the Spirit” is what happens when the Holy Spirit indwells a believer. The “fruit” is the product of the Holy Spirit’s cultivation of character in a heart. Galatians 5:22-23 describes what that fruit looks like; the second characteristic listed is joy.

Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled. Joy expresses God’s kingdom—His influence on earth

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17).

The Spirit’s production of joy can manifest in several different ways:

 

The Joy of Deliverance

The joy of deliverance: When God sets someone free, rejoicing is in order. I was a slave to sin (aka missing God’s goal).

Jesus came to set me free. Now that is very good news.

• 1 Samuel 2:1: Hannah was filled with joy at her deliverance from her enemies.
• Acts 12:14: The servant girl was so overjoyed that God had rescued Peter from prison that she forgot to let Peter in the house.

 

The joy of salvation

The joy of salvation: Our greatest reason to be joyful is that God wants to save us and spend eternity with us. Nothing is better than this.

• Luke 15:7: All heaven is joyful when a person accepts God’s provision of salvation.
• Acts 8:8: The people of Samaria were joyful as they heard the good news and saw God’s power in healing the sick.
• Acts 13:52; 15:3: Jewish believers rejoiced when they heard of the work of the Holy Spirit in saving Gentiles.

The joy of spiritual maturity

The joy of spiritual maturity: As the Holy Spirit works in us to bear more fruit, we become confident in God’s promises and rejoice in our walk with Him and with other believers.

• John 15:11: The fullness of joy comes to those who continue in the love of the Messiah and obey Him.
• 2 Corinthians 1:24: Not that we Master it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.
• 2 Corinthians 2:3: And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.
• 2 Corinthians 7:4: Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride and boasting on your behalf. I am filled to the brim with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in spite of all our trouble.

Paul knew joy as the churches gave evidence of the Holy Spirit working among them.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20: For who is the object of our hope or joy or our victor’s wreath of triumphant celebration when we stand in the presence of our Master Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are indeed our glory and our joy!
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9: For what adequate thanks can we offer to God for you in return for all the joy and delight we have before our God on your account?

Groups of believers who unite in demonstrating the mind, love, and purpose of the Messiah bring joy to others.

Philippians 2:2: Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love toward one another, knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in the Messiah.

Believers, following the example of Jesus, endure persecution because of the promise of future joy.

• Hebrews 10:34: For you showed sympathy and deep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the unjust seizure of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, conscious of the fact that you have a better possession and a lasting one prepared for you in heaven.
• Hebrews 12:2: Looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity, who for the joy of accomplishing the goal set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work.
• James 1:2-4: Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith through experience produces endurance leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed in your faith, lacking in nothing.

 

The joy of God’s presence

The joy of God’s presence: The Holy Spirit draws us to God, in whose presence we can know true joy. Without the Holy Spirit, no one would seek God.

• Psalm 16:11: “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
• Matthew 2:10; Luke 1:14: Mary and the shepherds were joyful because Immanuel had been born.
• Matthew 28:8; Luke 24:41: The women who went to Jesus’ tomb and the disciples were overjoyed that He rose from the dead.

 

Joy in relation to grace

The Greek chara is closely related to charis, which means “grace” or “a gift.” Chara is the normal response to charis—we have joy because of God’s grace. The next step in the progression is to allow our joy to become an action as we express it, although sometimes joy can be so great it is inexpressible.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

Possessing joy is a choice. I get to choose whether to value God’s presence, promises, and work in our lives. When we yield to the Spirit, He opens our eyes to God’s grace around us and fills us with joy.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing through the experience of your faith that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. | Romans 15:13

Joy is not to be found in a fallen world; it is only fellowship with God that can make our joy complete.

We are writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you included may be made complete by having you share in the joy of salvation. 1 John 1:4